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Temperate terrestrial exoplanets are likely common objects, but theirdiscovery and characterization is very challenging. Concepts for optimizedspace missions to overcome these challenges are being studied. The LIFEinitiative focuses on the development of a space-based mid-infrared (MIR)nulling interferometer probing the thermal emission of a large sample ofexoplanets.  We derive first estimates for the signal-to-noise (S/N), spectral resolution(R), and wavelength requirements for LIFE. Using an Earth-twin exoplanet asreference case, we quantify how well planetary/atmospheric properties can beconstrained from MIR spectra of different quality.  We simulate LIFE observations of an Earth-twin orbiting a G2V star at 10 pcfrom the Sun with different levels of exozodiacal dust emissions. We combine acloud-free 1D radiative transfer model and the nested sampling algorithm toretrieve planetary/atmospheric properties from input spectra of differentwavelength coverage, R, and S/N.  We find that H2O, CO2, and O3 are detectable if S/N$\geq$10 (uncertainty$\leq\pm1.0$ dex). We find upper limits for N2O (abundance $\leq10^{-3}$). CO,N2, and O2 are unconstrained in all cases. The limit for a CH4 detection is R$= 50$, S/N $=10$. We further correctly determine the exoplanet radius(uncertainty $\leq\pm10\%$), surface temperature (uncertainty $\leq\pm20$K),and surface pressure (uncertainty $\leq\pm0.5$ dex). With the current LIFEdesign, the observation time required to reach the specified S/N amounts to$\sim7$ weeks with 4x2m apertures.  We conclude that a minimum wavelength coverage of $4-18.5\mu$m, a R of 50 andan S/N of 10 is required. With the current assumptions, the atmosphericcharacterization of several Earth-like exoplanets at a distance of 10 pc andwithin a reasonable amount of observing time will require apertures $\geq2$meters.

astronomy and astrophysics

Large Interferometer For Exoplanets (LIFE): III. Spectral resolution,  wavelength range and sensitivity requirements based on atmospheric retrieval  analyses of an exo-Earth